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Controversial portrait of pope to be unveiled

An artwork created by Shorewood artist Niki Johnson, a portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI fashioned from 17,000 condoms, will be unveiled for the first time publicly on April 11.

Because of the artwork has sparked discussion around the world in recent days, some of it negative, a special exhibit has been planned to show the double-sided work publicly at the Portrait Society Gallery, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 526. It will be unveiled on April 11 at 7 p.m., when the artist will give a talk.

The Portrait Society Gallery, which explores contemporary portraiture in its many forms, originally planned to show "Eggs Benedict" as part of a larger show of feminist art in June. The piece will also be up at the Portrait Society for Gallery Night, April 19, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Johnson's colorful artwork, created with a kind of rug hook technique, took three years to make and was inspired by the former pope's now famous 2009 remark about condoms, made on a trip in Afrida and suggesting that condoms increase the spread of AIDS.

Johnson, 35, completed her master's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012 and is currently teaching at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.

Molly Snyder at OnMilwaukee was the first to write a story about Johnson's portrait. It was then picked up by The Huffington Post and spread quickly to other web sites and publications around the world.

About Mary Louise Schumacher

Mary Louise Schumacher is the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic. She writes about culture, design, the urban landscape and Milwaukee's creative community. Art City is her award-winning cultural page and a community of more than 20 contributing writers and artists. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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